E-Scooters shouldn't be involved in Dundalk Mobility Hubs in "any way at all"

Louth County Council have been told that e-scooters should not be involved "in any way" with the planned Dundalk Mobility Hubs.  

Louth County Council announced its intention to install 41 mobility hubs across Dundalk in February which aims to give people access to shared mobility services such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles (EV). 

Fianna Fáil councillor Shane McGuinness said e-scooters should not be involved with the mobility hubs "in any way at all". 

"I still think they’re [Mobility Hubs] a great idea but I have two issues. One is to have scooters involved in them in any way at all. We’re trying to get this country to ban scooters for under 18s and I don’t think we should have them in mobility hubs at all," he said. 

Cllr McGuinness said he wasn't comfortable with some mobility hubs being put into green spaces.

He said he didn't believe "green areas should be touched for any reason, for anything". 

Read Next: Louth County Council gives notice for 41 mobility hubs across Dundalk

Independent councillor Ciarán Fisher also questioned how Louth County Council would regulate the use of e-scooters . 

"I’m really interested in the mobility hubs, will they include electric scooters as well as bikes? If so do we have any way of regulating them and make sure they abide by the correct speed and correct spaces on the road," he said. 

A spokesperson for Louth County Council said there is already legislation in place to limit the speed of e-scooters.

Elsewhere, Ardee councillor John Sheridan asked if the council had any plans to extend the mobility hubs beyond Dundalk. 

However, the council said any decisions regarding the expansion of mobility hubs lie with the local authority's Active Travel team. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.